Two-wheeled vehicle



(No Model.) D. D. WEISELL.

TWO WHEELED VEHICLE.

No. 309,268. Patented Dec. 16, 1884.

Warren dramas ArnNr DAVID D. VEISELL, OF FORT XVAYNE, INDIANA.

TWO WHEELED VEHICLE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.309,268, dated December 16, 1884.

(No modeh) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID D. WEIsELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort \Vayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana,have invented new and useful Iniprovements in Two WVheeled Vehicles, ofwhich the following is declared to be a full, clear, and exactspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in two-wheeled vehicles .ordrivingcarts, and has for its objects to provide a novel combination ofdevices whereby the horse motion or movement of theanimal in travelingis absorbed and to a large degree prevented from being transmitted tothe vehicle-body, and to improve that class of two-wheeled vehicles inwhich the vehicle-body is supported by side springs on the axle, and thethills have rearward extensions connected with a spring supported underthe vehicle-body, whereby the structure is rendered more compact andefficient, and the draft-strain is transferred from the front of thevehicle-body to the side springs. These objects I accomplish in themanner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, illustrating my invention, inwhich the figure is a side elevation of the two-wheeled vehicle ordriving-cart.

Referring to the drawing, Aindicates a suitable side spring-here shownas a semi-elliptic springsecured to the axle J. There will be two sidesprings, one at each side, and, as shown, they are connected at theirfront and rear ends, respectively, with cross-springs B by flexibleconnections 0 C, such as shackles, knuckles, or ball-and-socketjoints.The shafts or thills S are hinged or pivoted to the forward extremitiesof side springs, A, and have no direct connection with the vehicle-body,whereby the draft is transferred from the body E to the springs, andthethills have rearward extensions or heel ends, F, behind their con-'nection with the side springs, which ends are secured directly to aspring, D, (one or 11101 0,) attached centrally to the vehicle-body Edirectly under the weight of the occupant or load. The spring D ispreferably semi-elliptic, and sufficiently forward of the axle to clearthe same when the vehicle is in use. If a pole is used, it is applied ina manner similar to thills or shafts, by hinging or pivoting the shackleor draw-bars to the front ends of springs A A and extending thembackward sufficiently to admit of the heel attachments F to the ends ofspring D through and by the yielding connections G. Spring D, whichforms the base for the attachment of the heel ends of the shafts orpole, although secured to the body directly under the greatest weight ofthe occupants or load, does not sustain any of the weight of the same,and is therefore free to vibrate upward and downward with the motion ofthe heel ends of the shafts or pole caused by the gait of the horsewithout perceptibly disturbing the occupants, and, acting incombinationwith the hinged or pivoted shaft or pole attachments O andheel attachments F through yielding connections G, effectually overcomesthe so-called horse motion so much complained of in this class ofvehicles. This yielding and flexible shaft attachment also prevents thejarring, oscillating, and vibrating motion of the vehicle from beingcommunicated to the horse with sufficient force to unsteady his gait orehafe his back. Spring D, acting in combination with the shafts or pole,shaft or pole attachments and connections 0, F, and G, springs AA,springconnections 0 G, springs B B, and body E, prevents the latter fromtipping forward and backward, and maintains it constantly in ahorizontal position in the following manner: Then the springs thatsustain the weight of the occupants or load are flexed, spring D, beingsecured to the body E, is carried downward with it the entire distanceof the combined flexure of both springs A A and B B, while the shafts orpole, through their heel attachments F G to spring D, are also carriedwith it the same distance, and through and by the shaft or poleattachments O the front ends of springs A A are depressed or carrieddownward in addition to their own ilexure a distance nearly equal to theflexure 5 a horizontal position at all points to which it is carried bythe flexure of the springs. The body attachment to the gearing throughthe yielding connections 0 G and G, acting in combination with theflexible shaft or pole attachments, prevents the unpleasant jostlin gmotion so common in this class of vehicles, and relieves the occupantsfrom the jerks and jars caused by the sudden starting and stopping ofthe horse or by the wheel dropping into a rut or striking anobstruction.

The lightness and simplicity of construction of this vehicle and itsadaptability to the use of almost any style of body insure elegance indesign, its freedom from rigid attach- Inents insures durability, whileits ample and properly-adjusted springs, with their yieldingconnections, together with its yielding and flexible shaft or poleattachments, produce a more easy, graceful, and pleasant ridingtwowheeled vehicle than has heretofore been known or used.

I am aware that vehicle-bodies have been supported by side springs onthe axle, which are connected attheir front and rear ends withcross-springs, to both of which cross-springs the thills are connected,as in United States Patent No. 249,730; but such is not myiuvention.

I am also aware that in. avehicle-body sup ported by side springs on theaxle the thills have been connected by a bracket to the front of thevehicle-body, and thence extended rearward and connected by links with acrossspring supported by brackets centrally under the body, as inEnglish Patent No. 8,639, A. D. 1840; but neither is such my invention.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- In atwo-wheeled vehicle, the combination of an axle, side springs securedthereon and supporting the body, thills flexibly connected directly tothe forward ends of side springs, to transfer the draftstrain theretoand relieve the forward portion of the body therefrom, and havingextensions rearward of their flexible connections with side springs, anda spring or springs attached centrally to the body under the weight ofthe load, and jointed directly to the extremities of the rearwardextensions of the thills, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

DAVID D. YVEISELL.

Witnesses:

LEwIs H. BOW'ERS, HENRY STHAIR.

